Can physical exercise during gestation attenuate the effects of a maternal perinatal low‐protein diet on oxygen consumption in rats?

Abstract

A protocol of physical exercise, based on maximal oxygen uptake (V O 2 max ), for female rats before and during pregnancy was developed to evaluate the impact of a low-protein diet on oxygen consumption during gestation and growth rate of the offspring. Virgin female Wistar rats were divided into four groups as follows: untrained (NT, n = 5); trained (T, n = 5); untrained with low-protein diet (NT+LP, n = 5); and trained with low-protein diet (T+LP, n = 5). Trained rats were submitted to a protocol of moderate physical training on a treadmill over a period of 4 weeks (5 days week −1 and 60 min day −1 , at 65% ofV O 2 max ). At confirmation of pregnancy, the intensity and duration of the exercise was reduced. Low-protein groups received an 8% casein diet, and their peers received a 17% casein diet. The birth weight and growth rate of the pups up to the 90th day were recorded. Oxygen consumption (V O 2 ), CO 2 production and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were determined using an indirect open-circuit calorimeter. Exercise training increaseḋ V O 2 max by about 20% when compared with the initial values (45.6 ± 1.0 ml kg −1 min −1 ). During gestation, all groups showed a progressive reduction in the restingV O 2 values. Dams in the NT+LP group showed lower values of restingV O 2 than those in the NT group. The growth rate of pups from low-protein-fed mothers was around 50% lower than that of their respective controls. The T group showed an increase in body weight from the 60th day onwards, while the NT+LP group presented a reduced body weight from weaning onwards. In conclusion, physical training attenuated the impact of the low-protein diet on oxygen consumption during gestation and on the growth rate of the offspring.

Homage to the ‘H’ in developmental origins of health and disease

“…81,82 In rodents, maternal exercise abolishes the deleterious effects of developmental exposure to a high fat or protein restricted diet. 35,39,[41][42][43] Additional studies are needed though to examine whether breastfeeding, exercise, and probiotic administration can combat other negative extrinsic influences, such as stress and environmental chemicals. It is becoming increasingly apparent that gut microbial populations and their by-products can affect various systems ranging from cardiometabolism to the central nervous system.…”

“…35 A maternal low protein diet fed to rats results in decreased resting oxygen consumption and growth rate of offspring, but these effects are attenuated in dams subjected to physical training. 43 Although the rodent studies suggest that maternal exercise may confer positive benefits on offspring metabolism, it is not clear whether similar outcomes can be replicated in humans. The handful of studies to date has yielded mixed findings.…”

“…Body weight gain and energy intake was reduced in male and female offspring placed on a HFD but born to dams who exercised with the effects most pronounced in male offspring Male offspring of exercised mothers demonstrated less white adipose tissue (WAT) fat mass and burned more calories during the day Insulin stimulation resulted in a reduced time-dependent decline in plasma glucose in males of non-exercised mothers Decreased Il6 and increased peptide PYY, a peptide released from the ileum and colon in response to feeding, occurred in sera of adult offspring of exercised dams 41 Female C57Bl6J mice Maternal exercise for 6 weeks before and throughout pregnancy and fed either a control or HFD Maternal HFD alone resulted in hypermethylation of Pgc1a and suppressed gene expression in skeletal muscle of female offspring at birth and up to 12 months of age, but concurrent exercise reversed this epigenetic change and increased expression of Pgc1a Maternal exercise also improved age-associated metabolic dysfunction at 9 months of age 42 Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats Maternal exercise during gestation Male offspring fed a HFD demonstrated increased hepatic triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation However, male offspring from exercised dams were protected against developing dietinduced hepatic steatosis No protective effects of maternal exercise were noted in female offspring 43 Male C57Bl6J offspring Dams were exercised 2 weeks before conception, throughout gestation, or 2 weeks before conception and throughout gestation and fed a chow or HFD Male offspring of chow-fed dams who exercised before or during gestation showed improved glucose tolerance beginning at 8 weeks of age and throughout the first year of life and at 1 year of age had lower serum insulin concentrations and percentage body fat compared with other groups Male offspring of non-exercised HFD-fed dams had impaired glucose tolerance, increased serum insulin concentrations, and elevated body fat. However, maternal exercise before or during gestation alleviated these metabolic disruptions in male offspring Maternal exercise during pregnancy When tested in a Morris Water Maze that measures spatial learning and memory, offspring from exercised dams learned the platform earlier and spent more time in the correct quadrant.…”

Moderate exercise attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation and associated maternal and fetal morbidities in pregnant rats

“…We designed our study with a regimented protocol in order to control exercise intensity and duration. Moreover, we chose to model moderate-intensity exercise (65% of maximum exercise ability) because this level of exercise has been associated with maternal benefits and, importantly, because it has been recommended for pregnant women by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology [33,40]. As our data reveal, though moderate-intensity exercise was advantageous, it did not completely prevent LPS-induced maternal and fetal alterations.…”

Efeito do treinamento físico e da desnutrição durante a gestação sobre os eixos cranianos de ratos neonatos

“…No sistema nervoso, Parnpiansil et al (2003) (18) verificaram que em filhotes de ratas submetidas a um protocolo de treinamento em esteira (20m/min, 30min/dia, cinco dias/semana, com aproximadamente 70% do VO 2max ) durante a gestação, houve aumento na expressão de mRNA de fatores neurotróficos derivados do cérebro (BDNF) no hipocampo cerebral e maior habilidade na aprendizagem motora espacial. Ainda, Amorim et al (2009) (19) constataram que o treinamento físico moderado (1h/ dia, cinco dias/semana, durante sete semanas, com aproximadamente 65% VO 2max ) não alterou o consumo de oxigênio de repouso de ratas treinadas e desnutridas em relação aos animais controles e repercutiu positivamente na taxa de crescimento de sua prole até os 90 dias.…”